Turbine.



PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

R. H. GOLDSBOROUGH.

TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1904.

6 SHEET8SHEET 1.

I blw i wvewtoz Wit/"Mow Hie/mm H. fioidabamug la (gZ/awua B f 14 g g f14 7' 6mm PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

R. H. GOLDSBOROUGH.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0 W MIWMWW! .l I v rll llw 7//////////////// Q L M Q No. 794.611.PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. R. H. GOLDSBOROUGH.

TURBINE.

113 1 b 90 1 3 e sums-9111.1: a.

SwooMoz if: l'cbm'li f/Uo/daborwgb I J M 61m No. 794,611. PATENTED JULY11, 1905.

R. H. GOLD OUGH.

TURB

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PT. 8, 1904. v

No. 794.611. PATENTBD JULY 11, 1905. R. H. GOLDSBOROUGH.

TURBINE.

APPLICATION Hum SEPT. e. 1904.

6 SHEETS-11331 5.

attomwgg No. 794,611. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. R. H. GOLDSBOROUGHTURBINE.

APPLIGATION TILED SEPT.6, 1904.

e SHEETS-SHEETS.

vF t/ J0. U8

54mm oz l WWW If J's/10rd filialllsbalm m $44M ar NITED STATES PatentedJuly 11, 1905.

PATENT Eric,

TURBINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,611, dated July 11,1905;

Application filed September 6,1904. Serial No. 223,427.

'a specification.

My invention relates to turbines; and it consists in the parts,constructions, and combinations herein described and claimed.

My invention relates particularly to a radial inward-flow turbineconstruction in which the difference in the radii of successive portionsof radially-arranged steam passages or chambers acts to produce changesin the pressure and velocity of the steam current flowing therethroughand to maintain the steam at the several points along said passages in acondition of pressure and velocity necessary for a highly efficientoperation of the turbine. In this construction centrifugal forceimparted. to the steam by the rotating walls of the steam-passagesaugments the efiect produced by the difference in radii of successiveportions of said passages, and thereby acts eificiently to produce auseful effect.

The objects of my invention are to providean improved construction inwhich the energy of the steam is utilized partially in the form ofpressure and partially in the form of kinetic energy, the proportionbetween the quantities of energy utilized in said two forms beingcapable of wide variations to meet any requirements of speed or otherconditions of practical operation.

My invention provides a simple and durable construction in which thesteam can be efficiently employed at a low peripheral speed of therotor, thereby furnishing turbines of high power with small diameters,whereby a high factor of safety in the strength of the rotating parts isobtained without unduly increasing the size and weight thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a compact constructionin-which the steam will be efliciently utilized at a low peripheralspeed and which can be conveniently adjusted to vary the range ofexpansion of the actuating-steam.

1 A further object of my invention is to provide a simple and highlyefiicient means for imparting heat to the steam during its passagethrough the turbine.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisapplication, and in which similar reference-symbols indicatecorresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is an axial sectionalview illustrating one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is'a detailsectional view illustrating a modified construction of the ringscarrying the admissionports. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, on alarger scale, illustrating preferred means for securing the vanes totheir supporting-wheel in the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is adetail perspective view clearly illustrating the relative arrangement ofthe ports and moving vanes shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view similar toFig. 1, illustrating a modified construction provided with steam heatingchambers and automatic alarm devices. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectionalview, on an enlarged scale, taken in part on the lines 18 18, 18 18",and 18 18 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view clearlyillustrating the construction of the ports and their adjusting means.Fig. 8 is a perspective view of interchangeable adjusting means forvarying the expansion of the steam in the admission-ports. Fig. 9 is avertical axial sectional view illustrating a construction provided witha plurality of independent wheels on a common shaft, and Fig. 10 is asectional view on the line 22 22 of Fig. 9. 7

Referring especially to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, 78indicates annular casing members formed with annular steam-chambers 79and secured to the outer periphery of the annular port members 82, whichlatter are provided with a plurality of admission-ports 83 forconducting an actuating medium from the chambers 7 9 to theturbine-vanes. Heads 84: of the turbine-casing are secured to the portmembers 82, as shown, and provided with bearings 90 for theturbine-shaft 88, said bear- 9 ings being removably secured to the beadsby arms 91, which are constructed to permit ready escape of theexhauststeam therebetween. A turbine-wheel 87, secured to the shaft 88,carries a plurality of concentric annular series of vanes 92, extendingaxially from each side, the corresponding vanes on the opposite sides ofthe wheel being secured thereto by a common bolt 97, which extendsthrough both of said vanes and their shrouds 98. A set of concentricannular series of stationary vanes 9 1 is carried on a plate in positionto alternate with the concentric series of vanes on each side of theturbine-wheel, the plates 80 being adjustably secured to the adjacentcasing-head 84 by bolts 81, thereby providing common means forsimultaneously adjusting the several annular series of stationary vanesof each set. Each admissionport 83 is shown provided with a cut-awaycylindrical plug 95,which is provided with an external hand-wheel 96 foradjusting said plug to vary the cross-section of the entrance portion ofsaid port. In the operation of this construction steam is maintained atany desired pressure in the annular chambers 79, from which it isdirected by the admissionports 83 at an efficient angle against theouter periphery of the outermost annular series of movable vanes, thedegree of expansion in said admission-ports being regulated by thecontrolling-plugs 95. A preferable construction is that in which theadmission-ports are constructed to provide a double expansion of thesteam while flowing therethrough. The steam is discharged inwardly fromthe first set of movable vanes 92 to the adjacent set of stationaryvanes 94:, which latter are constructed to direct it at an eflicientangle against the second set of movable vanes 92. The steam isdischarged from the second set of movable vanes inwardly to the nextsucceeding set of stationary vanes, which direct it at an eflicientangle against the final set of moving vanes 92, from which it isdischarged into the annular discharge-cham ber circumscribed bysaid lastseries of vanes. The steam flowing radially inward through the annulardischarge-chamber passes successively through portions of the decreasingcross-section, thereby causing a material regeneration of thesteam-pressure at the Zone of maximum crosssection adjacent the inneredges of the final series of movable vanes 92. The zone ofsteam-pressure thus maintained adjacent the inner edges of such vanesacts in a very efficient manner to produce a reaction of the steamdischarging therefrom.

From the above description it will be seen that the high velocityimparted to the steam by its expansion in the admission-ports 83 isfully utilized by a fractional absorption thereof in its impact onthesuccessive series of vanes and that as the velocity of the steam is thusdecreased it impinges upon the vanes moving at a decreased peripheralspeed, whereby a satisfactory relation is maintained between the speedof the several sets of vanes and the steam impacting thereon with aresultant highly efficient operation throughout.

It will further be clear that some degree of reaction is obtained in thesteam discharging from the several sets of moving vanes and that thewhole construction provides a very efficient means for economicaloperation at a relatively low vane speed.

Fig. 2 illustrates a modified construction for permitting expansion ofthe parts under the heating of the actuating medium, in which aport-ring 10 is provided with radial slots 10, slidablv engaging pins10" in the turbinecasing. These pins support the port-ring from theperiphery of the inclosed annular series of vanes and permit freeexpansion of its diameter under the influence of the heating of theactuating medium.

In Fig. 3 the inner set of movable vanes are shown secured to theturbine-wheel by an alternative construction, in which annular plates 99are formed integral with or cast on the several vanes of each series,said plates being formed of greater width than the vanes to provideconvenient means for bolting them to the turbine-wheel, as shown at 100.

Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate a modification of the construction shownin Fig. 1, in which the vanes of each succeeding series are formed ofincreased length and in which the turbine is provided with steam-heatingchambers and automatic alarm devices. In this construction foursuccessive annular series of movable vanes 101, 102, 103, and 104 areshown carried on each side. of the turbine-wheel, the vanes of thesuccessive series being formed of increased length. A plurality ofannular series of stationary vanes 105, 106, and 107 are cast in orsuitably secured to an annular member 108 in position to extend betweenthe several series of movable vanes. The vanes of each stationary seriesare formed of a varying length, ranging from the length of the vanes ofthe next preceding, or outer, moving series to that of the vanes of thenext succeeding, or inner, movable series. lar members 108 are shownprovided with annular chambers 109 and 110, which are connected bysuitable passages 111. The outer chamber 109 is provided with one ormore inlets 112 for supplying steam or other heating medium thereto.Suitable inlets are provided, preferably at the lower portion of saidchambers, for the escape of the heating medium therefrom, and saidinlets may be constructed to discharge in the turbine-exhaust, ifdesired. This provides a construction in which the heating mediumcirculates from the chamber 109 to the chamber 110 and enables thepressure and temperature of the heating medium in said chambers andtheir connecting-passages 111 to be maintained in a desired relation tothe temperature of the steam passing through the particular sets ofvanes adjacent thereto. This furnishes a simple means for imparting anydesired varying amounts ,of heat to the steam at the different points ofThe annu- ICC IIO

travel'through the successive series of vanes; The annular members 108are shown clamped between the two end members 113 of the turbine-casing,a packing 114 of heat-non-conducting material being preferably placedtherebetween. An annular member 115, secured between two annular members108, is provided with two independent annular steamchambers 116,constructed to supply steam to the respective admission-ports 117 of theseries of vanes on opposite sides of the turbinewheel. Independentsteam-supply pipes 118 are preferably provided for the two cham bers 116in order that either of them may be cut out independently, if desired.Each port 117 is shown provided with a groove in one of its walls forreceiving any one of a series of interchangeable controlling-plugs 119for varying thevorifices of said port. As shown especially in Fig. 8,the several plugs are constructed of different thickness in order toextend to a more or less degree within the ports 117 for controlling therate of expansion of the steam flowing through said ports.Contact-points 120 are shown electrically insulated at 121 in theannular member 115 and extending through said member into proximity tothe path of contact-heads 122, carried by plungers 123, mounted inrecesses 124 in the periphery of the turbine-wheel. Springs 125areconfined within said recesses against the outer faces of the plungersfor normally maintaining said plungers seated against the inner ends ofsaid recesses and for opposing the action of centrifugal force on saidplungers during the rotation of the turbine-wheel. In the operation ofthis construction steam is maintained at any desired pressure within theannular chambers 116, fromwhich it is directed through the ports 117 atan efficient angle against the outer periphery of the outermost annularseries of vanes 101. The steam is discharged from the vanes 101 inwardlythrough the annular series of stationary vanes 105, which areconstructed to direct it at an eflicient angle against the second set102 of movable vanes, which latter dis charge the steam into the secondset of stationary vanes 106. The vanes 106 direct the steam at anefficient angle against the third set 103 of movable vanes, and theabove steps are repeated until the steam is finally discharged from thelast set 104 of movable vanes into the interior of the turbine-casing,which is constructed to constitute an annular exhaust-chamber 126,provided with suitable lateral openings 127 for conducting theexhaust-steam to the atmosphere or to a condenser. The steam flowinginward through the annular exhaust-chamber 126 passes successivelythrough portions of decreasing cross-section, thereby causing a materialregeneration of its pressure at the zone of maximum cross-sectionadjacent the inner edges of the final series of movable vanes 104. The

zone of steam-pressure thus maintained adjacent the inner edges of suchvanes produce an efficient reaction in steam discharged therefrom andtends to augment thev rotative force exerted by the steam on said vanes.A very advantageous operation of this construction can be obtained byexpanding the steam in the ports 117 through practically its entirerange and subsequently utilizing a fractional part of the high velocitythus imparted to the steam during its successive impact on the severalseries of vanes. However, under certain practical conditions it may bedesirable to expand the steam through only a portion of its range in theadmission-ports 117 and subsequently complete the expansion during itspassage through the successive series of vanes. When saturated steam isemployed in the operation of this construction, there will be a materialcondensation of the steam in its passage through the successive seriesof vanes, with a resultant heavy frictional load in the turbine. Heatingchambers and passages 109, 110, and 111 provide a very eflicient meansfor imparting suflicient heat to the actuating-steam at different pointsalong its path through the vanes to prevent such condensation or tomaintain the actuating-steam in a superheated condition throughout itsoperation, if desired. In case the speed of the turbine rises above thatfor which the parts have been adjusted the centrifugal force exerted.upon the plungers 123 will project their contact-heads 122 sufiicientlyto engage the contact-points 120, and thereby complete an electriccircuit between the turbine and said points which are electricallyinsulated therefrom. An alarm device may be placed in such circuit tonotify the operator of any excess in the turbine speed, or said circuitmay be arranged to operate a valve device for controlling thesteam-supply in any well-known manner.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a construction in which a plurality ofturbine-wheels, similar to that shown in Fig. 5, are mounted on a commonturbine shaft 128. The several wheels carry on each face four concentricannular series of vanes 129, which are shown constructed and arrangedlike the movable vanes employed in the construction of Fig. 1. The endmembers130 of the turbine-casing and stationary annular partitions 131,se cured to a cylindrical member 132 of the easing, carry concentricannular series of vanes 133 in position to extend between the adjacentannular series of movable vanes.

Any desired number of wheels could obviously be employed; but I haveillustrated three such wheels, to which steam is supplied from sixindependent annular steam-chambers 116. cient operation can be obtainedthrough great variations of load by cutting off the steamsupply to oneor more of the steam-chambers With this arrangement a highly effi- 116without in any way throttling or affecting the remaining steam-supply.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a turbine, the combination of a turbine-wheel, an annular seriesof vanes extending axially from each side of said wheel and constitutingthe outer periphery of an inner annular chamber, and common means forsecuring the corresponding vanes of said two series to thewheel,,substantially as described.

2. In a turbine, the combination of a turbine-wheel, an annular seriesof vanes extending axially from each side of said wheel and constitutingthe outer periphery of an inner annular chamber, and common bolts forsecuring the corresponding vanes of said two series to the wheel,substantially as described.

3. In a turbine, the combination of a turbine-wheel, an annular seriesof vanes ex tending radially from each side of said wheel andcircumscribing an inner annular chamber, independent means constructedto direct steam radially inward through the respective series of vanesinto the inner annular chambers, and an independent controlling devicefor each of said independent means, whereby the steam can be directedsimultaneously through the two series of vanes or either of said seriescut out without atl'ecting the action of the other, substantially asdescribed.

4:. In a turbine, the combination ofa turbine-wheel, a plurality ofconcentric annular series of axially-extending vanes carried on eachside of said wheel and circumscribing an inner annular chamber, meansconstructed to provide free communication between said two annularchambers, and means constructed to direct steam radially inward throughthe successive concentric annular series of vanes into said annularchambers, substantially as described.

.5. In a turbine, the combination of a plurality of turbine-wheelsmounted on a common shaft, a set of concentric annular series ofaxially-extending vanes carried on each side of the several wheels andcircumscribing an inner annular chamber, means constructed to providefree communication between said several annular chambers, an independentmeans constructed to direct steam radially inward through the successiveconcentric annular series of vanes of each set into said inner annularchamber, and means constructed to control the steam-supply from any ofsaid sets of vanes, substantially as described.

6. In a turbine, the combination of a turbine-wheel, a plurality ofconcentric annular series of axially-extending vanes carried on saidwheel and circumscribing a common inner annular chamber, a plurality ofannular series of stationary vanes supported on the casing to extendbetween the several series of wheelvanes, and common means for adjustingthe vanes of said several stationary series, substantially as described.

7. In a turbine, the combination of a turbine-wheel, a plurality ofconcentric annular series of vanes carried on said wheel andcircumscribing a common inner annular chamber, means constructed todirect steam radially inward through the successive concentric annularseries of vanes into said common chamber, and means constructed toimpart heat to the steam at different points along its passagethroughsaid vanes, substantially as described.

8. In a turbine, the combination of a turbine-wheel, a plurality ofconcentric annular series of vanes carried on said wheel andcircumscribing a common inner annular chamber, means constructed todirectsteam radially inward through the successive concentric annularseries of vanes into said common chamber, and means constructed toimpart heat to the steam at diflerent points along its passage throughsaid vanes in amounts proportionate to the temperature and condition ofthe steam at such points, substantially as described.

9. In a turbine, the combination of a turbine-wheel, a plurality ofconcentric annular series of axially-extending vanes carried on saidwheel, said vanes constructed with ends lying in parallel planes andeach series comprising vanes of lesser length than those of the serieslying nearer the wheel-center, and

a plurality of annular series of stationary vanes supported intermediatesaid several annular series of wheel-vanes, each of said stationaryvanes formed with one end lying in a plane parallel to that of the endsof the wheel-vanes and with its other end inclined to vary the length ofsuch stationary vane between the lengths of the two adjacent series ofWheel-vanes, substantially as described.

10. In a turbine, the combination of a turbine-wheel, an annular seriesof vanes carried by said wheel, an annular port member surrounding theouter periphery of said annular series of vanes and provided with aplurality of admissionports, and supporting means for said annular portmember constructed to permit free expansion of the latter inradially-outward directions, substantially as described.

11. In a turbine, the combination of a turfice of each of said severalports, and means grooves for securing them in position, sub- IQ forsecuring any desired controlling means of stantially as described. suchsets to each of said ports, substantially In testimony whereof I affixmy signature in as desclribed. b h b f 1 presence of two witnesses.

13. n a tur ine, t e com ination 0 a p urality of ports provided withgrooves, and a RICHARD GOLDSBOROUGH' set of stationary interchangeableplugs for Witnesses: varying the orifices of each of said several G.AYRES, ports, said plugs constructed to engage said CHARLES LOWELLHOWARD.

